Columbia GSAPP has released its new visual resource that can be an inspiring tool for the new generation of architecture students in Columbia and other universities. Columbia GSAPP's new visual collection can be perceived as a new method of learning spanning the most significant historical references from 1871 to 2013. Digital environment feverishly dominates our new educational era with open source, collectivity, interactive learning, data mining and user operative tools, which creates your own library or makes everything accessible. 

Columbia GSAPP Visual Resource Collection and Avery Library in Partnership with Artstor definitely introduces new learning tool in Columbia prepared by over 30 GSAPP students over the course of two years, who worked tirelessly to create the digital database organizing the images and metadata for delivery to Artstor.

The Avery/GSAPP Architectural Plans and Sections Collection is a two-year project that ultimately makes 20,000 images of 20th century architectural projects available. The first phase of 10,000 images is now available online in the Artstor Digital Library.

Beginning in the summer of 2014, the three VRC student curators worked with Avery staff to establish a collaborative workflow - the first project between the two groups! The impressive collection includes architectural drawings, images and photographs of primarily 20th century modernism. The curators were advised by Mary McLeod and Kenneth Frampton, both professors whose vast knowledge was invaluable in curating the projects included in the collection.

Curated by Ayesha Ghosh with assistant curators Carsten Rodin, James Brillon,  the Visual Resources Collection (VRC) is a student-run facility providing GSAPP students and faculty with more than 200,000 images in digital, 35mm slide, and lantern slide formats. Its collection also includes VHS and DVD recordings of over twenty years of lectures and events held at Columbia GSAPP.

In order to use the site, users must register with a valid columbia.edu email address. Outside researchers will not be able to access the collection directly, but are free to make an appointment with VRC's curators on a limited basis to discuss research needs.

Top image courtesy of the Columbia GSAPP Visual Resources Collection

> via Columbia GSAPP Visual Resources Collection